Burris won't face perjury charge

June 19, 2009

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris provided incomplete and vague answers to state lawmakers investigating his controversial appointment by ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but there is "insufficient evidence" to charge him with perjury, a county prosecutor said Friday.

Burris said the decision vindicated him of accusations he didn't give lawmakers the whole story about how he got the Senate seat. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell the seat a month earlier.

Burris faces a Democratic primary challenge next year if he decides to seek election to the seat, and a Senate ethics panel in Washington is still reviewing the multiple explanations he has offered about his contacts with Blagojevich confidantes.

Returning to Chicago on Friday, Burris declined to answer questions after reading a prepared statement at O'Hare International Airport proclaiming the perjury investigation "thorough and fair, and I am glad that the truth has prevailed."

"I have never engaged in any pay-to-play, never perjured myself, and came to this seat in an honest and legal way," he said.

In closing the investigation, Sangamon County State's Atty. John Schmidt, a Republican, stopped short of providing the full exoneration that Burris proclaimed. The prosecutor said Burris provided truthful answers about contacts with Blagojevich insiders but "did not mention" others.

"Some of the answers are vague," Schmidt said, "but there is insufficient evidence he knowingly made a statement that he knew to be false."

While not criticizing lawmakers, Schmidt said they did not "pin" Burris down.

Schmidt's investigation was launched after Burris in February revealed he had discussions with Blagojevich associates that weren't disclosed in his testimony to the House impeachment panel. Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on corruption charges, was ousted from office in January.

Burris initially gave the panel an affidavit stating he had no contact with anyone connected to Blagojevich "regarding my appointment." A few days later, he testified he had spoken to Blagojevich's former chief of staff-turned lobbyist Lon Monk about his interest in the seat and lobbying business.

In a subsequent affidavit, Burris revealed he discussed the Senate seat with several aides as well as Blagojevich's brother, Robert, head of the governor's campaign fund.